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/ 30 October 2006

HIV treatment should start earlier

Researchers have suggested that treatment of patients with HIV infections in South Africa should start at higher CD4 cell counts. After studying untreated patients in the Cape Town area, they have identified a greater short-term risk of progression to Aids or death in South African patients with CD4 cell counts of 200-350 cells.

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/ 30 October 2006

Somali peace talks delayed, say officials

Peace talks aimed at averting all-out war between Somalia’s powerful Islamists and a weak government failed to start as scheduled on Monday, amid an apparent rift in the governmental delegation. A planned third round of negotiations, to be mediated by the Arab League and Kenya, had been due to begin on Monday morning.

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/ 30 October 2006

Ministers to be asked about SNO, tumours

Ministers in the social services and governance cluster face questions in the second chamber of Parliament, the National Council of Provinces, on Tuesday afternoon — including one to the Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri about the progress made in setting up a second national operator (SNO).

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/ 30 October 2006

Question time for security ministers

The peace and security cluster of ministers face questions from MPs in the National Assembly this week — including one to the minister of safety and security on whether he had set his own targets for crime reduction. The questions take place on Wednesday afternoon, following a series of questions to the Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Question time starts at 3pm.

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/ 30 October 2006

Israel prepares extensive Gaza operation

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned on Monday that the army is preparing an extensive operation in the Gaza Strip, with the government to make a decision on the offensive in days, an MP said. ”The army is preparing for an even more extensive operation in the Gaza Strip,” the prime minister was quoted by the source as telling Parliament’s defence and foreign affairs committee.

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/ 30 October 2006

No meaningful reduction in personal tax expected

While no meaningful reduction in personal income tax should be expected in the February 2007 main budget, the focus could be on the corporate tax regime instead, says Sanlam group economist, Jac Laubscher. "While government seems favourably disposed to lowering tax rates, it is keeping its options open as far as lowering taxes in the main budget in February 2007 is concerned," says Laubscher.

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/ 30 October 2006

Schumacher gets new role at Ferrari

Retired world champion driver Michael Schumacher is to stay with Ferrari as assistant to new CEO Jean Todt, the Italian outfit announced at Monza on Sunday. The 37-year-old Schumacher retired as a driver after piloting his Ferrari to fourth place in the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday. The German won a record seven world titles and was with Ferrari as driver from 1996 until he retired.

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/ 30 October 2006

Counting starts in DRC’s epic election

Vote-counting started in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday after the vast, war-scarred state turned out to choose a democratically elected president for the first time in more than four decades. Voting proceeded in a calm manner, with only scattered reports of violence after a tense campaigning period.